A17696:54
Sermon of Master John Calvin, on the history of Melchizedek Wherein is also handled,…Sermon of Maister Iohn Caluin, on the historie of Melchisedech Wherein is also handled,…
Sermon of Master John Calvin, on the history of Melchizedek Wherein is also handled, Abraham's courage in rescuing his nephew Lot: and his Godliness in paying tithes to Melchizedek. Also, Abraham's faith, in believing God: comprehending four sermons. And, Abraham's obedience, in offering his son Isaac; in three sermons. Translated out of French, by Thomas Stocker, Gent.Sermon of Maister Iohn Caluin, on the historie of Melchisedech Wherein is also handled, Abrahams courage in rescuing his nephew Lot: and his Godliness in paying tithes to Melchisedech. Also, Abrahams faith, in belieuing God: comprehending foure sermons. And, Abrahams obedience, in offering his sonne Isaack; in three sermons. Translated out of French, by Thomas Stocker, Gent.
London: printed by John Windet, 1592London: printed by Iohn Windet, 1592
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And therefore the Apostle saith in that place, Pour put your petitions, thoughts, and desires before God: that is to say, when you know your ⟨p. 57⟩selves to want this thing and that: seek for the benefit where it is, and there you may find it, to wit, in God: Let your prayers, supplications, and thanksgivings, show that you are before God: & when you have prayed as I have before said: Let your thanksgiving be conjoined with your petitions. For, if we pray murmuringly, & with a grieved and discontented mind, that is to blaspheme his holy name. And therefore our prayers must be a sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour. For we do him great wrong and injury when as we will make him to submit him self and be subject to our appetites, and not be contented with his favour and grace. We see then why we ought to be roundly admonished, as often as we pray unto God, to render unto him also praise and thanks, & yield our selves wholly to his will, and acknowledge and confess, all the benefits which we have received at his hands: as in the Psalm it is said: Call upon me in the day of thy trouble, 1and I will hear thee […] and thou shalt praise and glorify me. And after this sort, we see how Melchizedek doth here the like as touching Abram. Now, that we may the more familiarly comprehend this matter, we are to note, that our prayers are to have regard as well unto the time past, as unto the time to come, & for the time past, to confess unto God the ⟨p. 58⟩benefits which we have already received of him: and for the time to come, to crave of his majesty, that it would please him to continue and persevere the same his mercy unto us as he hath begun, even unto the end. Now we are here especially to note this one thing: that although Abram was so mightily advanced, as to be made the father of the faithful, to be blessed of God with all virtues, and to have a most excellent spirit of faith: yet Melchizedek nevertheless told him that he was continually to go forward and increase from grace to grace unto the end, and daily have recourse unto God to call upon him. For, when he blessed him, he read him eftsoons a lesson, which he was well to look unto, and to practise the same also all the days of his life.
And therfore the Apostle saith in that place, Poure put your petitions, thoughts, and desires before God: that is to say, whē you know your